As a dictionary entry itself, it only occurs under despatch, there being no entry for. Dispatch definition, to send off or away with speed, as a messenger, telegram, body of troops, etc. Despatch definition of despatch by the free dictionary. The main difference between the two terms is in their spelling. However, both variations are accepted by british standards. Despatch is believed to have come from the spanish word despachar, meaning to send quickly and dispatch is believed to have evolved from italian word dispacciare, meaning to dispatch. Dispatch definition and meaning collins english dictionary. In traditional british english, dispatch means to kill quickly, as in he dispatched the rat humanely. Difference between despatch and dispatch difference. Despatch has mostly disappeared from the languageexcept in the u. However, as with so many other words, ignorance of the difference has become so widespread that people often use dispatch for both meanings. From longman dictionary of contemporary english dispatch di.
Apr 12, 2011 the difference between despatch and dispatch is simple. To my mind, despatch is a verb, as in despatch a parcel or execute someone sorry fredpuli47 and sandmaster, for different reasons. May 04, 2005 the uniform english spelling from the first introduction of the word to the early part of the 19th c. However, it is more common to use dispatch for the noun thing and despatch for the verb from the 16th century french verb despeechier to set free. Unabridged based on the random house unabridged dictionary. Dispatched definition of dispatched by merriamwebster. David copperfield, by charles dickens jo rather prided herself upon her shopping capabilities, and particularly wished to impress her escort with the neatness and dispatch with which she would accomplish. Any unfortunate student who produced dispatch in a spelling bee was penalised. That presented an inviting opportunity to steven thompson and the scotland striker dispatched a low leftfoot shot past marshall. Despatch meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. To send an important official message promptly, by means of a diplomat or military officer. Despatch is another spelling method for the word dispatch used by the british. Goods are dispatched within 24 hours of your order reaching us. Any unfortunate student who produced dispatch in a spelling bee was penalised the word comes into english in the early 1500s from italian dispacciare, to send off with speed, although there were forms of.
Though by now the word dispatch has gained prominence and popularity over despatch there still are occasions where british use the spelling despatch instead of dispatch. Such finished goods can be dispatched from stock or as particular customers orders are manufactured the selection of jobs or batches of a product to be completed in a production schedule. The difference between despatch and dispatch is simple. Like a number of other commenters here, i was educated in the uk in the 1950s and 60s, and was invariably taught to use the spelling despatch. According to the chamber online dictionary both dispatch and despatch are the correct spelling. Despatch has the letter e, while dispatch contains the letter i. Apr 06, 2020 dispatch thirdperson singular simple present dispatches, present participle dispatching, simple past and past participle dispatched to send a shipment with promptness.
This course teaches english spelling rules with interactive exercises and spelling tests, helping learners with problems such as dyslexia to improve their english spelling and helping others to learn english as a foreign language. Prior to that, spelling was hardly rigidly enforced. Anything that needs to be mailed, sent off, or quickly shipped needs to be dispatched. Despatch definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Difference between despatch and dispatch difference between. The word dispatch is spelled with the letter i, while despatch is spelled with. Spelling of the word dispatch i have also seen despatch. The word dispatch is spelled with the letter i, while despatch is spelled. British newspapers which could not afford their own correspondents used its dispatches. Apr 16, 2014 prior to that, spelling was hardly rigidly enforced. Despatch definition is chiefly british spelling of dispatch. Despatch and dispatch might sound similar, and you might be surprised that the two words also share the same meaning. The difference in spelling originated in 1755 when a dictionary introduced the.
Thank you, des, for pointing out the differentiation of spelling in the concise oxford dictionary. Dispatch is supposed to be more common but i prefer despatch as it is closer to the way i pronounce it. I realise that the world has moved on and that dispatch is now the usual spelling. Definition of dispatched from in the idioms dictionary. According to the oxford dictionary both are perfectly acceptable. If you dispatch someone to a place, you send them there for a particular reason. Providing the maximum meaning of a word by combining the best sources with us.
Both words refer to the act of sending something or someone to a specific place regarding a situation. The difference in spelling originated in 1755 when a dictionary introduced the form of des. I think there is a difference, despite the generally expressed opinion that they are identical words. As in i quickly despatched the gatecrashers but i have dispatched the documents to you. Of 30 foxes caught, 25 had been shot and five despatched by the hounds. Oct 30, 2006 according to the chamber online dictionary both dispatch and despatch are the correct spelling. Despatch isnt a misspelling, just a less preferred spelling. Despatched article about despatched by the free dictionary. Despatch for me, doesnt look quite right though hence me heading for the dictionary. Dispatch or despatch, variant british spelling or historical. Despatch article about despatch by the free dictionary. Difference between despatch and dispatch compare the.
The latter is an alternative spelling that was common in the 19th century and earlier, but dispatch has gained undisputed dominance in modern english. Difference between despatch and dispatch despatch vs. Correct spelling of dispatch despatch in the answerbank. Use our dictionary to check the spelling definitions of words. Of the digital entries transcribed so far in an online version of the dictionary, dispatch occurs 8 times to a singular occurrence of despatch when used to define other words. The variant despatch was the original english spelling, now rarely used. The difference in spelling originated in 1755 when a dictionary. Letters, official reports, teams of police if it has somewhere to be, you can dispatch it to get there. Mar 28, 2008 in traditional british english, dispatch means to kill quickly, as in he dispatched the rat humanely. Dispatched definition of dispatched by the free dictionary.
Putting the finishing touches on an off the shelf shopping cart and despatch is the spelling on customer order confirmations etc your order has been despatched would you think it had. The uniform english spelling from the first introduction of the word to the early part of the 19th c. The spelling is dispatch to send, to work quickly, to kill, or a message. Various dispatch rules can be used to select which particular job should be completed next from a queue of jobs. Dispatch definition is to send off or away with promptness or speed. The dis spelling was the norm in english until dr johnson wrote his dictionary in 1755 and included the word as despatch. There is no difference between the two in terms of pronunciation or definition. There is no difference between dispatch and despatch. First, theres a dispatch from ap reporter margie mason, who took a trip up the bay hap river in august. Dispatch is the most common, and therefore most preferred, spelling, but both spellings appear side by side in the revered oxford english dictionary see the work cited entry below.